Infusion package with handle and the method of manufacturing same



Jan. 7, 1941- BARNET 12,413,686

INFUSION PACKAGE WITH HANDLES AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SANE Filed Feb. 26, 1941 :5 She ets-Shet 1 0 MI I I 126 i'ZAc 124a o Q Jan. 7, 1947. L, BARNETT 2,413,686

INFUSION PACKAGE WITH HANDLES AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME Filed Feb. 26, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2 53 Q W s. 674

I 6 711a O Jan. 7, 1947. v I L. BARNETT 2,413,636

INFUSION PACKAGE WITH HANDLES AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME Filed Feb. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet a Hi i J.| MW My!!! emu has. 1941- INFUSION memos wrm mom AND THE METHOD OF MQNUFACTUBING SAME Louis Barnett, N. Y" assignor to Millie Patent Holding 00., Inc., a corporation of New York ' Application-February 2c, 1941, Serial No. 380,628

18 Claims. (of. Bil-77.1)

This invention relates to the manufacture of filled containers or bags and more particularly is directed to infusion packages, such as tea-balls and like articles of manufacture. and a novel method of producing-same.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve the construction of filled. containers or bags in theform of infusion packages as inexpensive articles of manufacture, which v shall comprise few and simple parts, which shall be easy and cheap to manufacture, which shall,

. be capable of quantity production on automatic tea-ball shown in Fig. 4 with the 'Flg; is a front elevational view showing high-speed packaging machines, which shall have joint seams retained against separation by suitable adhesive means, such for example. as by a heat sealing process. which shall provide animproved form of handle formed integrally of the enclosing bag of the package, and which article and the method of manufacture thereof shall be practical and emcient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. The invention accordingly consists of features'of constructions and method. combinations of elements,

arrangements of parts and steps in the process of manufacture which will be exemplified in the constructions and method hereinafter described and of which the scope of the application will be indicated in the following claims. 1

In the accompanying'drawings in which are shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. Us a plan view of a square-shaped teaball constructed to embody the invention;

Fig. 1--A is a front elevational view ofa fragmentary portion of a tea-ball similar in construction to that shown in Fig. 1, except that the handle constructed from the edge border flange is terminated by an integrally formed tag;

Fig.2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a ,front elevational view of the teaball shown in Fig. 1 with the handle thereof extended and the parts of the tea-ball suspended for manipulating the tea-ball during the brewing operation;

Fig. 4 "is a front elevational view showing a modified construction of a square-shaped teaball embodying the invention, the handle of which is formed from two edge border flange portions thereof; g

Fig. 4-A is a front elevational view of the handle extended for suspension thereof;

another modiiied construction of a square shaped tea ball embodying the invention, withv a bailhandle formed from three edge border flange portions thereof i Fig. 5 -A is a front elevational view of the tea-i 2 ball shown in Fig. 5 with the bail-handle thereof extended for manipulation of the tea-ball in brewing;

F18. 6 is a front elevational view of another modification of a square shaped tea-ball constructed to embody the invention, showing the handle thereof formed by cutting an opening in an unfilled mid-portion of the tea-ball;

Fig. 6-A is a front elevational view-of the improved tea-ball shown in Fig. 6 with the portion from the cut opening retained in attachment to serve as a tag;

Fig. 6-13 is a front elevational view of a teaball construction like that shown in Fig. 6, except that the bag portion is circular shaped;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of still a further modification of a square-shaped sectionaliz- I able tea-ball constructed to embody the invention, showing the handle thereof formed and extended from a mid-portion for manipulation of the tea-ball in brewing;

Fig. 7--A is a front elevational view like Fig. '7 showing the sections thereof folded toward each other;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of a furthe modification of a square-shaped sectioualizable tea-ball embodying the invention, the handle of which is formed of the edge and mid-portions thereof;

Fig. 8A is a front elevational view of the teaball shown in Fig. 8 with the handle thereof extended for manipulation of the tea-bail in brew- 1118;

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of the sectionthat shown in Fig. 1, except made circular in U shape; and

Figs. 14 and 14-A are front elevational views of a still further circular shaped tea-ball constructed to embody the invention.

Referring to the drawin s, 20 denotes one improved construction of a filled-infusion package in the form of a square-shaped tea-ball manufactured to embody the invention. As seen from Figs. 1. 2 and 3, the tea-ball 20 may comprise a bag portion made of a strip of filter sheet material Il folded over on itself to provide a fold edge 22 formin two superimposed layers, that is. overlying portions providing the fiattened sides 'of tea-bail 20 which are adhesively securedon the derstood manner, a sufficient length of said web being cut and folded to form the tea-ball'bag. Or, precut strips of sheet material 2| of proper shape andlength may form such supply source if desired. Sheet material 2| is of foraminous.

' construction, as for example, filter paper, perforated parchinent paper or Cellophane, cotton gauze and the the invention here described may comprise a filter paper base layer 2|a coated on onelside with a thermosetting partially fused plastic lamina 2|b of the character described in the application of Theodore F. Menzel, Serial No. 335,794, filed May 17, 1940, or of other suitable filter sheet base layer coated with a thermosetting plastic lamina for forming the heat sealed border joint seams or flanges 23, 24 and 25 in the manner hereinafter more fully described.

A suitable filter paper sheet for forming base layer 2la may be made of avegetable fibrous pulp stock, said' layer 2|a with thermosetting coating or lamina 2|b beingsuch that when made into the tea-ball bag has suflicient wet like. That used in the practice of 4 tea-balls and the like, it has heretofore been found desirable to include as part of the package some form of handle to manipulate the tea-ball during the brewing operation which may be carried out in a cup, and also to provide a tag which bears a legend such as the name or trade-mark of the manufacturer, grade of tea, etc. Such handles are most frequently provided by a string or stitched thread attached to the tea-ball bag, the free. end of the string handle being terminated by the tag. The provision of such string handles and tags in the construction of such complete tea-balls not only increases the cost of manufacturing ,by employing various additional materials, but also ,complicates the production process by requiring additional steps and when made on high speed automatic machines necessitates the'use of expensive apparatus.

.To simplify the method of manufacture and to make available less expensive high-speed automatic machines for the production of tea-balls with handles and means for carrying legends,

tea-ball 20, made as above described and shown in Figs. -1 to s, inclusive, with heat sealed joint mid-portion of the length thereof. Said cut 24a strength to withstand immersion in boiling water without damage or disintegration and without undue loss of tensile strength. The filtering sheet material 2| comprising the layer 2 la and coating 2 |b when forming the tea-ball bags must be such as to permit ready infusion, that is, passage therethrough of the water of immersion for brewing and straining the filling or tea contents T, said layer 2|a, coating 2|b and flanges 23, 24 and 25 being of such composition that it is non-toxic, insoluble" in hot boiling water, and impart no odor or taste even to the slightest degree'to the brew. I

It has been found in practice that a 6% pound fibrous pulp stock sheet of approximately .001

inch thick'of high wet tensile strength forms a practical filter paper layer 2|a for ,the purposes described herein. On such layer 2 la a finely powdered copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate may be uniformly sprinkled or sprayed, partially fused by heat to 60 C. and pressure rolled thereon for providing a satisfactory, pervious, dry and extremely thin coating or lamina 2l'b which does not materially affect the filtering capacity of thelayer 2|a. Approximately three ounces of such vinyl powder for .each pound of said layer 2|a will form said coating or lamina 2|b.of normally less than .0005 inch thickv Sheet material 2l'after taken from a supply source is cut to the required size, made into the tea-ball bags and. filled with the contents 1., the tea-ball bags each having the coating 2 lb of the sheet material 2| positioned on the interior surfaces thereof so that the border edge joint seams or flanges 23, 24 and 25'are sealed on placing the coating portion thereof in face to face relation and applying pressure and heat to a fusion temperature by suitable clamping means of any well known construction. With the coating or lamina 2|b formed of'the partially fused vinyl powder permanent sealing fusion will takeplace when pressure and heat of approximately 130 C. is applied. x

V In the manufacturing of infusion pac ages I01;-

seams or flanges 23, 24 and 25 is provided, one of said flanges, as for example, 24', being partially severed by a through. split or cut 24a through a extends from the outer edge of the flange 23 and terminating at 24!) a short distance from the edge of the flange 25. The portion of the flange 24 partially severedby through out 24a provides a non-tangling handle 240 for the tea-ball 20. The inner end 24b of said out 24a may be curved in a directionof the length of the flange 25 to "tearproof, that is, serve as an effective means for preventing the accidental tearing of the material between said inner end 24b and the adjacent free edge of the flange 25. The curvature of the out at' 24b also aids in producing a balanced stabilized suspension of the tea-ball 20 when manipulated by the handle 240, as is clear from F18. 3.

The utility of the invention when constructed like tea-ball 20 described above will now be apparent. The tea-ball bags may be manufactured in the usual manner and instead of applying separate string handle and tag, a portion of heatsealed joint seam extending about the bag is made sufficiently wide to permit partial severing a portion thereof as by means of cut or split 24a in the manner described above and shown in Fig. 1. Such tea-balls 20 are thereby provided with completely formed handles 24c which are integrally formed with the tea-ball bag structure, and because no other material need be incorporated into the tea-ball structure or attached thereto, the tea-ball 20 can be made by the simplified method above described and can be readily produced at a higher rate of speed on less expensively constructed automatic machines than is possible with g the usual string handles and tags.

The tea-ball 20 above described may also be provided with a legend bearing portion 20a incorporated therein for indicating a brand-name or trade-mark of the distributor or manufacturer. As shown in Figs. .1 and 3, a legend 25 may be embossed or otherwise imprinted in said tea-ball portion 20a which, as shown, occupies an unfilled corner of the tea-ball 20, that is, said portion 2|ia adjace'nt the handle portion 24b, so that when the tea-ball 20 is lifted by the handle 240 the legend 26 may appear in'an upright legible positlon in said corner 20a.

As shown in Fig. 1A, handle |24c is made similar to the handle 240 above described by mak- (mam ingthe throusb cutor split lilo except that ithasan enlar ed free end llld formed from a portion of flange 23 upon which a legend I" may be embossed or otherwise imprinted. v

Tea-balls made with handle No or lllc' when used to lift the tea-ball suspend the bag thereof as shown in Fig. 3, withcorner 20b of the .tea-

ball II on the Junction of the flange I3 and fold edge ll positioned to control the drip from said corner 20b for returning the drip to, the vessel or receptacle (not shown) in which the brew is being made in the well understood manner.

I The heat sealing of the joint seams or flanges 28, 24 and 25 may be imposed with flnely spaced crimps or flutings 21 upon said flanges. The ridges of the crimps 21 may extend longitudinally each flange, that is, parallel to the freeedge thereof, as-shown inFigs. 1 to- 3, said crimps 21 being applied in the longitudinal direction of the flanges and particularly lengthwise each handle Me or [240, therebyproviding a construction which .tends to strengthen the structure thereof against tension strains and accidental tearing.

A modified construction of tea-ball embodying the invention is shown in Figs. 4 and 4A at 30. The construction of tea-ball I0 is like tea-ball 20 but differs therefrom by providing a through split triangular section llc which may be folded back in use, as shown in Fig. a-a. when the section "0 is retained a legend it may be embossed or printed thereon. In both forms above described the portions "a and "a of flanges II and II, respectively, serve as a bail handle Ilc for supporting the tea-ball III in the brewing operation. v

It is to be understood that instead of making the tea-ball Ill square-shaped as shown in Figs. 6 and 6A,'it may be made of circular or oval contour as shown in Fig. 6-3 at I50 with a continuous heat-sealed border edge seam I". and the opening lliia corresponding to opening "a may be made circular, sector-shaped or other configuration suitable to form an integral bail handle iIlc of the original bag structure of such or cut 34a extending not only along the midportion of flange II, but also part way along the mid-portion of th adjacent flange 35, preferably terminating at 35a the centralportlon thereof. A legend 36 may also be applied to legend portion 30a adjacent flange cut terminal 3ia.- By extending said out 34a along flange II a longer handle c than handle m of tea-ball 20 is provided, as seen by comparing Fig. 3 with Fig. 4A. Tea-ball l0 permits suspension there of by handlejlc with the flang ll extending horizontally. the legend 36 then sing in an up right legible position. Another modification of construction of teaball embodying the invention is shown at 40 in Figs. 5 and 5-A which is seen to include a displaceable U-shaped segment to provide bail handle c, said segment-handle 440 being formedby a continuous out or split a successively through the mid-portions of flanges 43, 44 and 4B,

said split 44a having the ends 44d and e thereof terminating on flanges 43 and 45, respectively, just short of the 'edge fold 42. The segment-handie 0 or the latter with the adjoining portions of flanges 43, 44 and 45 may be utilized to carry an embossed or printed legend 48 thereof, if desired. The segment-handle 0 maybe swung as a bail about cut ends d and e from the position shown in Fig. 5 to an effective position shown in Fig. 5-F-A for manipulating tea-ball III for brewing. The bag of tea-ball ill with flanges l3, l4 and 45 may be constructed like the bag of tea-ball 20 with heat sealed flanges 23, 24 and 25.

A further modified construction of tea-ball embodying the invention isshown in Figs. 6 and 6-A at 50, and is seen to comprise in addition to heat-sealed border edge seams or flanges 53, ll, and edge fold 52, a heat sealed transversing portion 51 extending through an unfilled section of the bag merging as a junction with two adjacent flanges i3 and lil. Said transversing portion 51 may have a suitable cut-out,- such as triangular s'haped opening 50a. Said opening Ulla may be made by' splitting through a mid-portion of flanges 83, "and transversing portion 51. Instead of cutting flange portions 53a and Ila to make said openings 50a entirely free, a very small length illbof the perimeter is left attached to tea-ball I".

Still another modification of the construction of tea-ball embodying the invention is shown at to in Figs. 7 and 7--A. Said tea-ball Iii may be like tea-ball 20 describedabove, except that there is provided a heat-sealed diagonally extending portion 61 which forms said'tea-ball ll into two triangular shaped tea containing sections I and l60a.. Parallel spaced throughcuts or splits 81a along the middle of said portion 81 form segment 81c whichis displaceable from the plane of said portion 81 to serve as a handle.- An enlargement 61d provided at the free end of handle 61c may bear an embossed or printed legend 86. It will be noted, as seen from Fig. '7-A, that in lifting tea-ball 60 by the handle 610, the weight of the tea in sections I60 and IBM causes said sections to fold on a line extending substantially along the cut-out portion 81a of tea-ball which was formerly occupied by the handle 81c, thereby bringing said sectons' I80 and IBM more closely in face to face relation. This folding serves to reduce the effective width of said tea-ball 60, giving more clearance to tea-ball 80 in such folded condition when manipulated in and out of a tea-cup during the brewing operation.

Whereas tea-ball 60 is square-shaped, having straight flanges 63, 64 and 85 for forming triangularly-shaped sections I60 and IBM, it is to be understood that tea-balls may be similarly cOn-. structed of circular form having a closure border flange extending along the per meter thereof, in which case a diametrical sealed-portion corresponding to the diagonal portion 61 of tea-ball 88 would divide such circular tea-ball into two.

semi-circular sections and said diametrical sealedportion may be cut to form a handle which when lifted folds such semi- -circular sections'in the manner above described for tea-ball 60.

A still further modification embodying the invention is shown in Figs. 8, 8A,' 9 and 10 as tea-ball 10 which combines certainfeatures of construction of tea-balls 40 and 80 alreadv described or shown in Figs. 5 and 7. Tea-ball l0 has a bail-handle similar to bail segmenthandle c of tea-ball III with the addition of a mid-rib Hf formed by parallelly spaced throughcuts Ila and 11b on a central heat sealed seam Joint portion 11 which divides the tea-bal 10' into two rectangular shaped sections ITO-and "to. The segment-handle 'Ilc as shown in Fig. 8 is formed by two sets of continuous through-cuts 13a and 14a in flanges I3 and 14, respectively, joining with said through-cut 11b to form one set, the other set comprising cuts "a and Nb in flanges l5 and 14, respectively, Joining with cut IIa. Through-cuts 13a and 15a may have o ends lid andlle terminating on flanges It and through-cuts 11a and edge 12 in alignment "I'Ic, res tively, pee with said through-cut ends The mid-rib ll! may be of suflibisection thereof lengthlld'and 74s. cient width to permit wise by a tear 7 Tie. so that tea-ball It may be divided into two tea-balls i1! and I'Illa, each with a bail handle similar to tea-ball 40, thus permittingthe-use or hair the tea-ball III when'a weak brew or tea is desired. as shown may also be used, if without tearing apart sections I and Illa, in which case the tea-ball 10. may be folded along tear line He so that the sections I10 and llla are brought in close proximity and in more compact form for brewing.

line formed of spacedthrough-cuts may 85179 as. or esend a. m

' It 13 cm" from mild that circular shaped tea-ball il l'tther'e shownmay be pro-'- vided with circular through-cut ma arterioles. v

centrally through me and "Min the flange lfland'terminate'at a mid-portion thereof instead of-extending to the'perime'ter as is the case in in Fig. 9. The,.tea-.ball 10 v desired, as shown in Fig. 10,

A modification embodying the invention in the form of tea-ball 80 is shown in-Fig. 11. Teaball 80 has certain features of tea-balls and 60 described above and shown in Figs. 1 and 7,

respectively, but diflering therefrom in that it has a diagonally extending sealed Joint portion d! formed'with a tear line of spaced disconnected cuts Bid for dividing tea-ball 80 in two sections m and 30a. Integrally iormed segment-handies 85c and 830 may be provided for tea-b'dl 30, each being similar to handle 240 of tea-ball 20 described above and shown in Figs. 1 to 3. by splitting through each mid-portion of flanges 83 and 8!,respectively. The free end of said segment-handles 88c and 850 may be temporarily secured by ready tearable connections 83d and slid, respectively, which may be severed when either of said handles 83c and Bio are displaced for use as desired.

By separating the section I80 from section lslla along the tear line of spaced cuts 81c, the halves of tea-ball 80, each with an integral handle. may be used for brewing tea at substantially half the strength, if desired. Said handles 83c and 850 alone or with the adjoining portion of flanges 83 and 85 from which said handles are formed may-serve to carry embossed or imprinted legend86.

Teasball 280, shown in Fig. 12, like tea-ball 50, has a handle 281a formed from a heat sealed diagonally extending portion 281. The handle 2810, however, may have the legend carrying end 281d extended to the edges of the adjacent border. There is also provided tear-line perforations 28Ie extending between the spaced through-splits ,ls'la'which form said handle 281a. Tea-ball 280 takes the position such as shown in Fig. 'l-A for tea-ball 80 when used as a single package ands can be sectionalized to provide two tea-balls each with a. handle by tearing the sections apart along perforations 2810.

Stillanother and further modification in the form of the tea-ball 9,0 embodying the invention may comprise a circular-shaped structure as shown in Figs. 13 and 13A, which is formed of superimposed layers of filter sheet material, such as used for teaball 20 above described, but having a circumferential heat sealed joint closure" forming an integral marginal border or flange ll. A through-cut or split 94a through a midportion of said border flange 94 is extended from the perimeter thereof to a terminal end 946 to provide segment 94c. displaced from the position shown in Fig. 13 to that shown in Fig. 13--A forms a handle. An

unfilled portion 90c adjacent to the cut end -94b Said seg ent c When.

which when displaced out tion of flange lflc may serve to carry a legend Ill.

In theabove described tea-ball constructions and all modifications embodying the invention,

the flange closures or sealed Joints thereof after being cut through or split to form segment-handies leave such closures or Joints oi. suflicient width and strength to positively retain the essenceproduct T sealed therein for the brewing operation. 4

It is to be understood that the, tear-proof means of tea-ball 20, such as, the curved extension 24b of the cut 24a beyond the length of the segment-handle 20c, may be used in conjunction with any of the through-cuts or splits in the border flanges of any of the other modifications wherever desired. Other means for accomplishing like results may also be employed, as for example, through perforations terminating such cuts or splits.

It will be noted that tea-balls 40, Ill, 0., l0 and ISO may be readily used with a stirrer in brewing beverages and the like, such tea-balls being attachedby their bail-handles to the end of the stirrer in the well understood manner. Inexpensive forms of detachable stirrers may be supplied with tea-balls as a premium or as part of an advertisement therefor.

It is thus seen, therefore; that there is provided in which the objects of the invention are achieved 7 and which are well adapted to meet all conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments may be made in the above invention for use for diflerent purposes and as various changes might be made in the embodiments and method above set forth, .it is understood that all of the above matters here set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.- ,7

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a method of making an infusion bag package formed with a closure portion, the steps of heat sealing a marginal area of said closure portion to form a border flange, through-splitting a substantial continuous length of said flange short of complete severance while retain-'- ing said sealed closure intact to provide an integral handle when only a portion thereof is displaced from the plane of said flange for suspendv ing said package by said handle in manipulating said package during brewing.

2. The method defined in claim 1 in which said V step of through-splitting is continued beyond a length necessary to form the segment-handle to a cut termination for eliminating accidental tearing and stabilizing the suspension of the bag by said handle.

3. The method of manufacturing an infusion package of the character described including the steps of enclosing anessence containing. producttea-ball I... This cut llld from an integral portion of said seam .ioint closure a dependent elongated handle as and for the purpose described and specified 4. The method of making an infusion bag package defined in claim 3 including the step of crimping the seam joint closure including the handle forming portion with the ridges produced thereby extending longitudinally said closure and handle to strengthen the structure against tension strains and accidental tearing.

5. A method of manufacturing infusion packages of the character described including the steps of. enclosing an essence containing product in a filter sheet material to form a package with a sealed joint seam closure flange, and throughcutting a mid-portion of the flange wholly within the border of the flange to provide an integral" bail-handle segment for suspending the package by said bail-handle segment in manipulating the package during brewing while retaining thesealing of the joint seam closure flange intact.

6. A method of manufacturing infusion packages of the character described including the steps of enclosing "an essence containing product in a filter sheet material to form a package with a sealed joint seam closure flange extending more than half. way about the periphery of the package, through-cutting a mid-portion of the flange wholly within the border of the flange to provide an integral bail-handle segment displaceable from the plane of said flange for suspending the package by said bail-handle segment in manipulating the package during brewing -whileretaining the sealing of the joint seam closure flange intact, and shaping the ends at the through-cutting to provide terminals for eliminating accidenbail-handle segment from the line for folding said sections toward each other to when suspending the package by the handle during brewing.

8. The method defined in claim 7 in which the step of weakening a mid-portion of said seam in- 9. An infusion package of the character tiescribed comprising a filled bag'having a seam joint closure, and a dependent handle,transformed solely from a portion of said closurestructure one end of the handle integrally connected with said structure and other portions thereof be ing displaceable out of the plane of. Said structure for suspending the package by said handle;

10. An infusion package of the character described comprising a filter sheet material bag filled with an essence containing product, a marginal area of said bag having a;sealed joint seam closure forming an edge border, a portion of said border adjacent the edge having a through-cut short of complete severance from another portion thereof adjacent the product enclosed in the bag, the latter portion having sufficient structure to retain said closure sealed, said edge adjacent I for independent use.

- of said'layers secured together to form a joint l0 portion having at least one end thereof continuous with the said other portion and forming a segment-handle "to serve as a sole suspension means during a brewing operation.

11. An infusion package of the character described comprising a filter sheet material bag filled with an essence containing product, a sealing closure extending along at least an edge por .tion of said bag to form a marginal joint seam border, said closure border having a through-cut of sufiicient length therein for forming an elongated segment displaceable out of the plane of said border to serve as a handle, uncut portions of said border-joining the segment-handle to the bag having a cross-section structure of sufiicient tensile strength for withstanding strains due to immersion and manipulation of the package during brewing with the has suspended by said segment-handle.

12. An infusion package defined in claim 11 havingsaid through-cut terminating with means for tear-proofing" the segment handle to serve as an effective means for preventing accidental tearing of the material as described and specified.

13. An infusionpack'age defined in claim 11 having crimps formed with ridges extendinglonitudinal said closure border and handle for strengthening the latter against tension strain.

14. An, infusion package of the character described comprising a filter sheet material bag filled with an essence containing product, a sealing closure extending along at least an edge portion of said bag to form a joint seam border flange, said flange having a through-cut extending along a mid-portion thereof wholly within the border of the flange to form an integral bailhandle segment of the flange portion between the through-cut and the adjacent edge of the package for suspending the package during the brewing operation.

15. Apackage of the character described comprising two layersof filter sheet material with an essence containing product interposed and sealed therebetween, a median joint seam dividing said 'package into" a plurality of product containing sections, said median joint seam having a through-cut short of complete severanceto form an integral handle, and a weakened portion extending along said mid-portion between said section for folding the latter toward one another when suspending the package by'the handle during brewing. v I

16..The package defined in claim 15 in which said weakened portion has spaced perforations to form tearing means for separating the sections 17. An infusion package of'the character described comprising two superimposed layers of filter sheet material with an essence containing product interposed therebetween, marginal areas seam border sealing said product between said layers, said sealing border being split. through a mid-portion thereof .fpr a suflicient length short of complete severance to provide a handle integrally attached to said border to form the sole suspension support for the package in brewing.

, 18. The method defined in claim 1 in which said step of through-splitting is continued inwardly the edge of the flange to form a "tear-proof termination end and to provide stabilization to the .bag suspension by the handle.

LOUIS BARNETT. 

